Movement of Kangaroos After a Fire in Mallee Woodland.

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 349 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Caughley ◽  
B Brown ◽  
J Noble

Experimental burning of mallee (Eucalyptus spp.) and shrub vegetation has been done in New South Wales to stimulate plant growth for grazing sheep and cattle. In March 1984 fires were started by an aerial ignition technique in a 'paddock' of 116 km2 and a study was made, by aerial surveys, of movements of kangaroos (Macropus rufus and M. fuliginosus) into the area. Such movements would detract from the benefit to grazing stock. It was found that on this occasion the burned area did not attract kangaroos, apparently because good winter rains gave adequate food for them elsewhere. It is suggested that burning for grazing is likely to be most beneficial where winter rains are most predictable, i.e. inside the mallee zone.

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 45 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Bilton ◽  
DB Croft

Female reproductive success and the recruitment of offspring to the next generation are key components of animal population dynamics. With an annual commercial harvest of between 13 and 22% of the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) population, it is increasingly important that these processes are understood. We used data on the reproductive success of 33 free-ranging female M. rufus on Fowlers Gap station in far western New South Wales to determine the expected lifetime reproductive success (LRS) of females within an unharvested population. We also designed a model to generate predictions about female LRS incorporating empirical relationships between a mother?s reproductive success and maternal age, environmental conditions and the sex and survivorship of a previous reproductive attempt. Results from observations on female LRS (calculated from annual weaning rates) and those generated by the model predict that female M. rufus on ?Fowlers Gap? wean, on average, 3.7 young in a lifetime (ranges 0 - 11 and 0 - 20, respectively); representing only 41% of their maximum reproductive potential. Manipulation of initial starting conditions allowed the effect of varying environmental conditions on female LRS to be explored. The condition of the environment when females commence breeding does not appear to significantly affect their overall lifetime reproductive output. However, the occurrence of drought does. Females experiencing two droughts in a lifetime did not live as long and weaned fewer offspring and grandoffspring (from their daughters) than those females experiencing only one drought in a lifetime. In addition to the adverse effect of drought on the reproductive success of female M. rufus in this study, we suggest that, given the relatively high and stable population densities of M. rufus on ?Fowlers Gap?, other mechanisms (acting primarily on juvenile survival) must exist which limit population growth.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (66) ◽  
pp. 112 ◽  
Author(s):  
DW Turner ◽  
B Barkus

At Alstonville, New South Wales, leaf position had a greater effect than season on the nutrient concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mn, Cu, and Zn in the laminae of Williams bananas growing on a krasnozem soil and sampled over a 4-year period. However, season was more important for Mg. The effect of stage of plant growth was significant but much smaller than the other influences. When sampling for leaf analysis, leaf position and plant age can be standardised, but a major problem in this investigation was unpredictable, significant changes in nutrient composition from one sampling date to another. If these results are true for other soils. the data do not allow critical levels to be applied.


1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel

Habitat utilisation by sympatric red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, was monitored by aerial survey. Red kangaroos used floodplain and sandplain with equal intensity. Western grey kangaroos favoured floodplain and utilised woodland on both landforms relatively more than did red kangaroos. Movements of kangaroos between sandplain and floodplain paralleled changes in pasture condition. Red kangaroos responded to pasture growth, moving to sandplain immediately after rain. Western greys followed up to 3 months later, the increase in use of sandplain being weakly correlated (r = 0.70) to an increase in pasture biomass. There was no evidence of any temporal change in use of either woodland or open plain by either species.


1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
CN Johnson ◽  
PG Bayliss

The kangaroo populations of Kinchega National Park respond differently to shifts in pasture productivity, red kangaroos Macropus rufus being mobile and unevenly distributed with respect to soil and vegetation types, by comparison with the more evenly dispersed western grey kangaroos M. fuliginosus and the sedentary and localized euros M, robustus erubescens. Red kangaroo population classes tend to be differentially distributed, so that large males and heavily lactating females predominate on the seasonally preferred pastures, while other classes tend to predominate elsewhere. This finding has several implications for the management of red kangaroos and for our understanding of their resource ecology and mating systems.


1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 339 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
G Wellard ◽  
N Shepherd

Between July 1979 and November 1980 a total of 261 red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, (216F; 45 M) and 170 western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, (136F;34M) were caught and tagged with individually recognisable collars. Between July 1979 and January 1986, 1751 sightings of tagged individuals were recorded. Information gained from these sightings was used to assess how far each kangaroo ranged. More than 90% of individuals of either species did not range far (<9 km for reds; <6 km for western greys) even when local pastures were severely depleted during drought. A few individuals dispersed much further-up to 323 km. On average, red kangaroos ranged further than western greys. Kangaroos on Kinchega National Park ranged no less or no further than those on an adjacent pastoral leasehold. At least 17 tagged individuals crossed the macropod-deterrent fence surrounding Kinchega; several crossed repeatedly. Dispersal of kangaroos from Kinchega was slight, supporting the hypothesis of Bayliss (1985) that dispersal has no significant impact on population dynamics.


1978 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALC Wallace ◽  
AR Gfeeson ◽  
PS Hopkins ◽  
RW Mason ◽  
RR White

Plasma thyroxine concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay in plasma samples from 691 lactating ewes in 26 areas of New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania. Sheep sampled in New South Wales and Tasmania had significantly lower plasma thyroxine values (4�0 and 4�3 Ilg/100ml respectively) than those sampled in Queensland and Western Australia (5�4 and 5�3 Ilg/1OO mI respectively). However, sheep in some districts in southern Queensland also had low plasma thyroxine values.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 237 ◽  
Author(s):  
EM Russell

Red kangaroos, observed in the field in western New South Wales, were dispersed in small groups which, although aggregated near shelter, food or water, appeared to move independently. The temporal stability of these small groups is not known. Mean group size was 2.6, and more animals were seen in groups of two, three or four than were seen alone. Groups of two were most common, more than half of them containing one female with young-at-foot. Mixed-sex groups with one or several adult males were found.


1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
JH Arundel ◽  
I Beveridge ◽  
PJ Presidente

A total of 115 Macropus rufus was collected at bimonthly intervals at Menindee, New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 and 1977 and examined for parasites and pathological changes. The animals came from 2 populations, one free-ranging and the other a high-density, enclosed population in Kinchega National Park. No differences in species of helminths present, in prevalence or intensity of infection were noted between the 2 populations. The stomachs were infected with Labiostrongylus longispicularis (prevalence 87.8%), Rugopharynx australis (98.2%), Zoniolaimus spp. (81.6%), Cloacina spp. (71.1%), Papillostrongylus labiatus (47.4%) and Filarinema spp. (92.2%). Hypodontus macropi (93.0%) was the dominant species among the 2 species of cestodes and 3 of nematodes found in the intestine. Progamotaenia festiva (in 74.3%) was found in the bile ducts where it caused mild cholangitis. Only 2 nematode species, F. flagrifer and H. macropi, caused gross and histological lesions. Apart from L. longispicularis none of the helminths showed seasonal variations in prevalence or numbers. Data on worm numbers in relation to host age and on site distribution in the host are presented. The various haematological parameters measured showed no evidence of adverse effects by the parasites, and corticosteroid levels were judged to be within the normal range. The helminth faunas of 9 M. fuliginosus and one M. robustus, grazing sympatrically with M. rufus inside the park are listed. ADDITIONAL ABSTRACT: The parasites reported from 115 red kangaroos (Macropus rufus) in New South Wales in 1976-77 include Tracheomyia macropi (Frogg.), which infected the trachea in 54.5% of the kangaroos [see RAE/B 4, p. 122].


1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 337 ◽  
Author(s):  
DB Croft

Red kangaroos Macropus rufus and euros M. robustus were observed drinking at a stock trough in northwestern New South Wales. The populations of both species were divided into five age-sex classes. Drinking and agonistic behaviour was similar across classes and species. Inter- and intraspecific conflict between these classes for a drinking position were analysed. Within species, there is a size-related hierarchy for gaining and maintaining a drinking space, favouring the larger class. Interspecifically, euros, the smaller species, dominate equivalent age classes of red kangaroos. Retaliation in aggressive encounters is more likely between adjacent rank neighbours than those more distant in the hierarchy. Drinking individuals tend to win more encounters than individuals attempting to gain a drinking place. The longer a kangaroo has been drinking the less likely it is to act aggressively to an intruder. When drinking, spacing between kangaroos is essentially random. Both species displace another individual at a similar mean distance of 0.6-0.8 m, but spacing between adult euros is wider than between adult red kangaroos. Spacing is modified by the relative positions of neighbours on either side of the trough. The results are discussed in terms of social and other factors that may have led to the euro's dominance of the red kangaroo at water.


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